Neither vulnerable. North deals.

Neither vulnerable. North deals.

NORTH

xA Q 9

u3 2

vK J 10 8 6 3

w7 4

WEST EAST

xJ 10 8 7 6 3 xK 5 4 2

uQ 9 4 uK 7

v9 7 vA 5 2

wQ 6 wJ 9 8 2

SOUTH

xVoid

uA J 10 8 6 5

vQ 4

wA K 10 5 3

The bidding:

NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST

Pass 1NT Dbl 3x

3NT Pass 4u Pass

Pass Pass

Opening lead: Jack of x

Attacking the right suit can be critical to both declarer and the defenders. But playing the right card can be equally important.

After East opened with an 11-14 point no trump, South had no two-suited overcall available that showed a major and a minor, and so settled for a takeout double. West pre-empted in spades and North had an easy three no trump bid, but South certainly didn’t want to play there and his four hearts ended the auction.

West led the jack of spades, covered with the queen and king and ruffed in hand. Declarer cashed the ace and king of clubs and then led a diamond to the jack, forcing East to win with the ace to guard against declarer discarding the queen of diamonds on the ace of spades. Back came a diamond to the king, removing declarer’s only sure entry to the table.

South cashed the ace of spades for a club discard, came to hand with a spade ruff and led a club. West ruffed with the four and, since East was marked by the auction with either the king or ace of hearts, elected to exit with the nine of trumps. Declarer captured East’s king with the ace and led another club and West’s queen of hearts was the third and last trick for the defense.

West almost got it right! A heart return was safe, but he must exit with the queen. Declarer can win and try to ruff a club, but West ruffs with the nine and East’s king of hearts is the setting trick.

2008 Tribune Media Services